Team Vorarlberg captain Colin Stüssi in eleventh place among the world’s best on the third Tour of the Alps stage – Emanuel Zangerle successfully defends mountain jersey and Brakeaway King Jersey

Team Vorarlberg shines on the third Alpine stage of the Tour of the Alps UCI 2.Pro: Stüssi impresses in top group, Zangerle defends mountain jersey!

On the third, and today a truly brutal stage of the Tour of the Alps, which led over 175 kilometers and 3700 meters of altitude from Latsch to Arco, the peloton experienced an eternal up and down. Immediately after the start, a serious mass crash occurred at the front of the peloton, forcing around 30 riders to the ground and temporarily interrupting the race. Team Vorarlberg Profi  Dominik Röber, yesterday’s attacker, was affected. Despite numerous abrasions and pain, he was able to continue the tough stage. Almost ten pros unfortunately had to abandon the race today.

Stüssi and Hofbauer defy the mountains – Zangerle still in the mountain jersey!

After the resumption of the race, Team Vorarlberg set the tone with an early attack. However, the peloton rode together and at top speed into the first long climb to the Passo Castrin (1586 meters). Only the best climbers were able to follow here, including, fortunately, Team Vorarlberg leader  Colin Stüssi (SUI) and the young Austrian Philipp Hofbauer. They put up a great fight over all the mountains through the challenging South Tyrol to Trentino.  Hofbauer had to let go on the last climb to Tenno, but was still very satisfied with his improving form in the mountains. “Today was my best day on the bike in my career,” he said.

Colin Stüssi shines among the best, improves into the top 15 with eleventh place on stage

Colin Stüssi was able to match the extremely fast pace of the overall best by Tom Pidcock (GBR / Pinarello Q36.5) to follow. Tom Pidcock ultimately secured the stage win in Arco ahead of the Italian Tommasso Dati (Team UKYO) and Egan Bernal (COL / INEOS Grenadiers). Colin Stüssi showed a confident finish and placed eleventh on the stage. The hourly average today was 39.7 km/h!!! Gulio Pellizarri (ITA / Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) continues to lead the overall standings. Colin Stüssi improved by four places and is now in an excellent 14th place overall, as the best Continental pro in the entire field. Philipp Hofbauer finished as the best Austrian in 48th place, 2 minutes and 21 seconds behind the leader.

Emanuel Zangerle tireless in the mountain jersey and as “Breakaway King”

Emanuel Zangerle successfully defended the mountain jersey again today! Who would have thought that he would be able to keep this venerable leader’s jersey in his own ranks for three days. He continues to lead, one point ahead of the Irishman  Darren Rafferty from the EF Education EasyPost team. But that’s not all:  Zangerle also leads the overall standings of the “Breakaway King”. Twice a day on the podium of this UCI 2.Pro Tour – a badge for the yellow and black Team Vorarlberg colors!

Tobias Nolde, the fallen Dominik Röber, as well as the youngsters Kilian Feurstein and Ignazio Cireddu, who put up a great fight, successfully completed this difficult test and showed great morale. 

Outlook for the queen stage on Thursday 

Tomorrow, Thursday, the queen stage from Arco on Lake Garda to Trento is on the agenda, covering 168 kilometers and an impressive 4111 vertical meters. Team Vorarlberg is looking forward to this mammoth task with confidence and a dose of humility.

Sports Director Paul Renger was delighted: “What a performance from our team today too! Despite the early fall, we showed character.  Colin Stüssi is right at the front, Philipp Hofbauer shows courage in his first big tour, and Emanuel Zangerle still with two jerseys on his shoulders. It will be almost impossible to get this to the finish, but we will continue to give it our all at the Tour of the Alps!”

Press Service Team Vorarlberg
www.team-vorarlberg.at
office@proevent-cycling.at

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